Table or desk attachment for chairs or seats.



No. 633,323. Patented Sept. l9, I899.

W. K. LOUGHBOROUGH.

TABLE 08 DESK ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS OR SEATS;

[Application filed Nov. 23, 1897.) (No Model.) 2-Sheqats5heet 7 7 Q Inventor.

Witne WW- f Attbrpey.

Nd. 633,323. Patnted Sept. l9; I899.

I w. K. LOUGHBORUUGH.

TABLE OR DESK ATTACHMENT FOB CHAIRS 0B SEATS.

I (Application filed Nov. 28, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2' Sheefs-Sheet 2.

Inventor.

UNITED STATss FFEQE.

AJTENT OF ONEIIALF TO RUSH WIRT, OF SAME PLACE.

TABLE OR DESK ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS. OR SEATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 638,323, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed November 23, 1897- Serial No. 659,546. (No model- To a-IL whom it may concern-.- Be it known that I,W1LLIAM KERR LOUGH- BOROUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table or Desk Attachments for Chairs or Seats, of which the following is aspecificaiion. This invention relates to improvements in tables, desks, 'or lapboards, and more particularly to improvements in table, desk, or lapboard attachments for chairs or seats already in use, though the invention is adapted for use permanently in connection with any seat, as a school-seat, and will be found to be advantageous in lecturerooms and classrooms where note-books are kept and writing is required to be done by a number of persons. The objects of this invention are, first, to provide a table, desk, or lapboard attachmentwhich can be easily adjusted in position for use and when not in use maybe turned aside to permit the person to rise from the seat; second, to provide a desk or table attachment for seats that can be compactly and easily folded and turned down to the side out of the way when not in use; third, to provide improved means of adjusting the lapboard to different angles or to dillfercnt positions; fourth, to provide improved means of adjusting the lapboard laterally away from the person in connection with a means that makes the same easily detachable andadjust-able to different heights, and, fifth, to provide an improved means of attaching a table or lapboard or the like to an ordinary chair.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

l-accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in this specification.

The exactinvcntion is'deiined and definitely pointed out in the claims.

The structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in .-."hich Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chair with one of my improved lapboar-Ll attachments in position, the dotted lines showing how it is adjusted at different angles. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the dotted lines showing how the lapboard is folded and put down to one side of the seat or chair. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 3 3 oli Fig. 1, showing the method of supporting the lapboard. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the adjusting-arc for setting the table at different angles. Fig. 5 isau enlarged detail inverted plan view of the actuating bracket plate or bar for secu ring the device to the chair-seat. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of the socket portion-with a part of its attachingbracket, being a plan of the part appearing in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the socket, taken on line 7 7 of Fig. (i. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view on the shank portion of the table-support. Fig. l) is a detail plan view of the corner of the table or board where the support is attacned, being the plan view of the part appearing in Fig. 3. 0

In the drawings all the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the cnds'of the section lines, and similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A represents an ordinary chair.

1 is a vertical socket having a bracket B at one side adaptedto be secured to the under side of the chair: seat. An adjustable portionii" is secured to the bracket B by a bolt J through a slot J therein and is adapt- ,ed to extend across beneath the bottom of the chair to provide an adjustable means of securing to the frame of a chair-seat when made of cane or like material. requiring a frame. The socket B is specially constructed for the purpose of securing the shank C to the table-support above. On the shank C is the projecting pin or lug a". The socket is provided with a longitudinal groove 'r', (see Fig. 6,) extending the length of the same and extending transversely around the socket. From this slot r are openings topermit the shank (J to swing within the socket. The 5 openings are somewhatlike the openings between iarge saw-teeth. The tooth part so formed is provided with notches 15 t on itsupper side. These are to receive the-lug or pin -r to look the shankin. afixed position, so that it will. not swing accidentally. The upper portion of the shank C is provided with a quadrant or section of a circular piece containing holes e for adjustment purposes.

dotted lines in Fig. l.) livoted between the two upper ends of the plate is the projecting U-shaped-portion E" of the frame E, to which the board or table-top F is secured. Pivoted at n to the projecting portion of the plate D is a hook D, which is adapted to engage over the U -shaped portion E of the frame E,- which carries the table-top F and holds the same in a level or suitable position to support any work, writing, or books, or any a r-- ticle It IS desired to support upon it. when in use.

The operation of my improved table attachment is as follows: When it is desired to use the table, it is placed in the position shown by the full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. It is adapted to swing away from the user by the shank G swinging in the socket ii, and the same is adjustable to suitable heights by raising shank 7 within thesoekct and swinging pin '1' into the recesses therefor, The table-top is supported rigidly in place by the pin 7', engaged in the notches I L to prevent the same from swinging. \Vhen it is'desircd, the table can be set at different angles by adjusting pin L' in the holes (.2 in the quadrant C. (See dotted lines in Fig. 1.) When it is not desired to use the table at all, it can be raised to a Vertical position by swinging it on a pivot a and then turning the whole on pivot II until it swings down to the side of the chair or seat, as appears in the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

I have thus enumerated and described specilically all the parts of my improved table attachment and have indicated their operation. I desire to state in this connection that the details of the same can be greatly varied without departing from my invention,though eacl: of the parts is believed by me to be of special advantage exactly as I have constructed them.

The socket B might be supported without the specially constructed bracket I have shown, but would of course lack the adj ustability of the device, which is of importance and advantage. Other means of adjusting the shank 0 within the socket might be employed, though on account of its simplicity the exactstrncture I have shown is preferred. It is almost needless to remark that the transverse opening for the passage of the pin 0 could extend entirely through the walls of the socket or only part Way. The socket ex; act-1y as I have constructed it is adapted t6 use with any style of table supported above.

The table supported above could be used without providinga pivoted shank in a socket.

' Other variations will no doubt suggest them- 76 selves to those skilled in the art to which my 5 invention pertains. I

This plate is adapted to socket B, with suitable adjusting means there- Any suitable receptacle or drawer could be attached to the table-top; but as this does not pertain to my invention I show nothing of the kind. 7

The book D is pivoted at n, so that when the table-top is swung down at the side it will fold'down compactly, as indicated. It

would hold the table. however, if it was not 80 so pivoted.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a'table or desk attachment for chairs 8 or seats; the combination of the upright in; means of attaching the same to a seat; a shank adapted to fit in the said socket and be adjustable therein; a plate supported on a 0 transverse pivot at the top of said shank with means of adjusting the same at a suitable angle to vary theincline of the top or'allow the same to swing down at the side; a table'- top hinged to said .plate on a horizontal axis 5 and adapted to project in front of the seat; a

stop for supporting said table-top in position for use all eoactin g so that the table is adapted to swing to and from the user in the seat or 'to be raised up on its hinge and swing down I00 to the side of the seat when notin use forthe purpose spccilicd.

L. In atable or desk attachment for a chair" 101' seat the combination of a suitable socket;

a shank fitting withinsaid socket and adapted 10 to turn therein; a plate pivoted on a transverse pivot to said shank; and a table-top. hinged to said plate so that the axis of thehinge is in a horizontal line with means of" supporting the same in front of the user whereby the top can be moved away from the user or can be swung up on its hinge and down to thesidc of the chair on its pivot for the purpose specified.

23. In a table or desk attachment fora chair I 15 1 or seat the combination of a holder fora tabletop having a shank; a socket to receive said shank; a bracket adapted to be rigidly attached to the chair or seat to support said socket, the said bracketcontaining a slot; an no adjustable arm having a bolt extending through theslot of said bracket, said adj ustable arm being rigid throughout and adapted to extend beneath and across the seat to form an extensible base for said bracket adjustable toi chair-seats of different sizes, for the purpose specified.

orseat the combination of a suitable socket and shank to fit within the same; a plate su'p- 13o at. In a table or desk attachment for a chair to hold the table in a working position so that it can be swung on the pivoted plate horizontally around to the side of the chair or C with a quadrant thereon containing holes 8; a plate D, pivoted thereon; a pin 1' supported on spring I, on said plate adapted to engage holes 6 of the quadrant to adjust the top at different angles; 'and the table-top pivoted to said plate on a horizontal pivot; and a hook D pivoted on the plate D at n to engage the frame supporting the table and hold it in position for the user for the pure. pose specified.

6.' In a table or.desk attachment for a chair or seat the combination of a suitable shank for a support; a plate pivoted to saidshank and adapted to swing in a vertical plane; a

table-top horizontally hinged by a horizontal pivot to said plate with means of supporting the same in front of the user so that the top can be swung upon its hinge and swung down on the pivot to the side of the chair for the purpose specified.

7. In a table or desk attachment for chairs or seats; the combination of an upright shank; a plate pivoted thereon on a transverse pin; suitable means of adjusting the plate at dilferentangles on the shank; a tabletop hinged to said plate and a hook on the plate to support the tabletop in position for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereun o set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KERR- LOUGHBOROUGII. [I.. s]

Witnesses:

E. C. LoUGHBoRoUoH, G. F. MARVIN. 

